12.30: cook/macuguard/4-star/
new formula tastes like soap, is it essential?
12.30: summary:
. this is research about a supplement
that features lutein and zeaxanthin
for the purpose of protecting the eyes
from blindness caused by macular degeneration.
. lutein comes from grean leafy vegetables,
but zeaxanthin is not so easy to get;
is it really needed? or can I rely on leaf?
11.28: 12.30:
Life Extension MacuGuard Ocular Support with Saffron
[purchased from amazon B01HFREINK(ad)]
. I chew this along with my other fat-soluble supps,
rather than swallow it whole,
and I noticed it tasted like soap in this new batch;
but I figured that's just the way marigold's can taste,
and I just never noticed it before,
or they have some new (possibly better) extraction method.
. this supp provides some eye-protecting pigments
not found in the dark green leafy veg (zeaxanthin).
. both those pigments might be preventing
macular degeneration
when combined with minimizing
omega-6 veg oil and grain-fed animal fat,
maximizing omega-3 fish oil,
and staying away from refined sugars.
. "risk factors for AMD include
Blue light irradiation to the macula,
Hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and diabetes."
[ Antioxidants (Basel). 2024 May 4
Antioxidants and Mechanistic Insights for Managing
Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration;
Deepak Basyal, Sooyeun Lee, Hye Jin Kim.]
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11117704/
. the dramatic rise in the rates of AMD
are due to the rise of omega-3 vegetable oil
and grain-fed animal fat.
. there has also been a rise in refined sugars,
which may contribute to eye stress.
[ ophthalmology prof Dr. Chris A Knobbe 2023
The Ancestral Diet Revolution:
How Vegetable Oils and Processed Foods
Destroy Our Health - and How to Recover!
https://amzn.to/3BRZCj9
[book from amazon (ad)]
or see the cureAMD organization website:
"An intake of dietary supplied nutrients
rich in the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin,
appears to be beneficial in protecting retinal tissues,
but this is not proven.
Until scientifically sound knowledge is available
we recommend" those at risk of AMD to
eat more dark green leafy vegetables,
and protect their eyes from the sun's UV light
with protective lenses and a hat.
[ Nutr J. 2003
The role of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin,
in protecting against age-related macular degeneration:
a review based on controversial evidence;
Maneli Mozaffarieh, et al.]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14670087/
. lutein may be more important than zeaxanthin
and you can get that from leafy greens:
Ophthalmology 2012
Effect of lutein and zeaxanthin on macular pigment
and visual function in patients with
early age-related macular degeneration;
Le Ma, et al, Randomized Controlled Trial
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22858124/
. Early AMD patients were assigned randomly to receive
10 mg/day lutein (n = 27),
20 mg/day lutein (n = 27),
10 mg/day lutein plus 10 mg/day zeaxanthin (n = 27);
or placebo (n = 27) for 48 weeks.
Macular pigment optical density (MPOD)
and visual function variables were assessed
at baseline, 24 weeks, and 48 weeks.
Results:
Macular pigment optical density
increased significantly by a mean ± standard error of
0.076 ± 0.022 density unit
in the 20-mg lutein group and
0.058 ± 0.027 density unit in the
lutein and zeaxanthin group during 48 weeks.
[12.30: so given the standard error,
it's not clear whether your extra 10 mg
of more lutein or instead zeaxanthin
is better for Macular pigment optical density;
but if all error was equal,
it might be better to replace zeaxanthin
with more lutein?]
There was a significant dose-response effect for
lutein supplementation, ...
At 48 weeks, a trend toward improvement was seen in
best-corrected visual acuity,
and there was a significant between-group difference in
contrast sensitivity at 3 and 6 cycles/degree
between the
20-mg lutein group and the placebo group. [12.30:
but less dramatic findings in the
lutein + zeaxanthin group?]
Conclusions:
Among patients with early AMD,
supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin
improved macular pigment,
which played a causative role in boosting visual function
and might prevent the progression of AMD.
[12.30:
. but the data seems to show that
given the same high dose,
having it be all lutein was more effective than
half of it being zeaxanthin? ]
. lutein and zeaxanthin are better for eyes than beta-carotene.
[ JAMA Ophthalmol . 2014
Secondary analyses of the effects of
lutein/zeaxanthin
on age-related macular degeneration progression:
AREDS2 report No. 3
Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Research Group;
Emily Y Chew, et al]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24310343/
Randomized Controlled Trial.
. we also need to increase fish-oil/veg-oil ratio;
however certain nuts may also be helpful:
"Intake of Vegetables, Fruit, and Fish
is Beneficial for Age-Related Macular Degeneration"
[ Am J Ophthalmol . 2019
Alexandra P M, et al.]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30312575/
. "The rate of slowing AMD progression was higher in
patients who followed the Mediterranean Diet
and received a dietary supplement,
compared to patients who skipped either
supps or diet (p<0.001)."
. the supp was AREDS 2 formula
(lutein 10 mg, zeaxanthin 2 mg,
vitamin C 500 mg, vitamin E 400 IU,
zinc oxide 80 mg or 25 mg,
and cupric oxide 2 mg) (8)
. the diet is high in polyphenols from olive oil,
non-refined cereals, potatoes, fruits,
vegetables, legumes, fish,
and is low in
poultry, mammal meat, full fat dairy, and alcohol.
[ In Vivo. 2023
Effect of the Mediterranean Diet on Progression of
Dry Form of Age-related Macular Degeneration;
Danai-Magdalini Gourgouli, et al]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37369498/
. things to consider about that study:
. if they did better using the lutein supplement
it could be that their diet's "vegetables"
didn't include much dark green leaf.
. cereals are a source of omega-6 oil;
there are better sources of fiber;
especially the legumes (eg, peas and lentils)
and the vegetables.
. concerning non-refined cereals,
Dr.Gundry 2017 tells us that whole wheat lectins
are a source of autoimmunity that clogs arteries.
https://amzn.to/4gQXNBM [The Plant Paradox (ad)]
. "Eating a lot of dark leafy vegetables
and some fruits
can help to prevent some diseases."
[ Nutrients. 2022
Lutein and Zeaxanthin and Their Roles in
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
—Neurodegenerative Disease;
Małgorzata Mrowicka, et al]
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8874683/
--
though Dr.Gundry 2017 tells us that
american fruits such as
corn, pumpkin, tomato, and squash
can have lectins that some don't tolerate.
. "daily use of 5 grams of fish oil
(3.4 g of EPA and 1.6 g of DHA)
significant improved vision acuity in
patients with dry AMD."
[ PharmaNutrition 2014
Pilot study for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
with high-dose omega-3 fatty acids
Tassos Georgiou, et al.]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S221343441300042X
. "A high intake of dietary fish oil or fish
was associated with a reduced risk of developing of AMD;
Every 15 g/day of fish consumption
was associated with 13% lower incidence of early AMD.
(there are 125g per tin of sardines)
. fish intake was associated with a significantly
reduced risk of AMD progression
(RR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.53, 1.00).
The dose-response analysis showed a 6% and 22% decrease
in the risk of early and late AMD
for each additional 1 g/d fish oil intake."
[ Clin Nutr. 2021
Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish intake
and risk of age-related macular degeneration;
Hong Jiang, et al.]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34749130/
". there is evidence of protection against early AMD
from regularly eating fish,
greater consumption of omega-3 fatty acids,
and having low intakes of foods rich in linoleic acid
[omega-6 oil from grains and grain-fed meats].
Regular consumption of nuts may also reduce AMD risk." [12.30:
despite being a significant source of linoleic acid.]
[ Arch Ophthalmol. 2009
Dietary fatty acids and the 10-year incidence of
age-related macular degeneration:
the Blue Mountains Eye Study
Jennifer S L Tan, et al, Paul Mitchell.]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19433717/
. especially pistachio nuts:
"Pistachio Consumption Increases
Macular Pigment Optical Density
in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial"
[ J Nutr. 2024 Oct 18
Tammy M Scott, et al, Elizabeth J Johnson]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39426460/
. pistachio are best at improving blood lipids:
[ Am J Clin Nutr. 2020
Comparative effects of different types of tree nut consumption
on blood lipids: a network meta-analysis of clinical trials;
Kai Liu, et al, Linlang Liang ]
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31773150/
. "Bioactive compounds from tree nuts
delay aging and age-related diseases
possibly by several mechanisms:
. the Nrf2/EpRE pathway is upregulated
and NF-кB pathway is downregulated by tree nuts.
. Tree nuts exert cytoprotection via antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory activities."
[ Trends in Food Science & Technology 2019:
Benefits of tree nut consumption on aging
and age-related diseases: Mechanisms of actions;
Marius Emil Rusu]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224418308203
